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Can You Coach Momentum

by Nathan McKay (director of coaching sportspeed physical intelligence)

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Momentum. You feel it. You see it. But can you coach it?

At SportSpeed, we believe the answer is yes — and we believe it’s the missing piece in how most coaches build their teams.

Momentum isn’t a myth or magic. It’s a real, trainable force in sport. And yet, in most systems, it’s completely overlooked.

We think that needs to change.

Momentum Is a Skill — And It’s Missing From Most Coaching Models

In nearly every sport, you’ll hear the same phrases:
“They’re on a roll.” “The momentum’s shifted.” “They’ve lost control.”

But these shifts aren’t just chance — they’re patterns of energy, focus, confidence, and execution. At SportSpeed, we train athletes to recognise, create, and respond to these shifts before they become scoreboard problems.

This is the edge most teams don’t train for — but it’s often the difference between average and elite.

How Coaching Can Improve — With a Momentum-Driven Mindset

Here’s how we believe coaching must evolve:

1. Teach Momentum Like You Teach Speed
- Momentum has triggers — just like acceleration or power.
- We coach micro-wins: the first 5 seconds of a play, a recovery sprint, a quick restart.
- These moments, stacked, create unstoppable energy.

2. Train the Mind Like the Body
- We use mindset reps: emotional regulation drills, pressure simulation, decision fatigue training.
- Mindset isn’t fluff — it’s part of the system.
- Momentum breaks when mindset breaks.

3. Use Smarter Team Selection
- Selection can’t be based only on skill or speed.
- A great team includes emotional anchors, momentum generators, quiet disruptors, and resilient leaders.
- We look at not just past stats — but projected performance under pressure.

Real Examples of Momentum Coached, Not Caught

- 2023 NRL Grand Final: Nathan Cleary didn’t fluke that comeback — he created it.
- Wimbledon 2023: Alcaraz’s shift after a 32-point rally wasn’t magic — it was mental control + tactical aggression.
- 2022 FIFA World Cup: Messi didn’t let the pressure break him — he reasserted belief and command.

These aren’t just great plays. They’re case studies in coaching momentum.

Choosing the Right Captain (and Leadership Core)

Coach captains and key players to reset the group’s energy under chaos. To lead with poise. To respond, not react.

Traits to coach:
- Emotional calm under pressure
- Command in voice and presence
- Awareness of when to lift others
- Clarity when the game starts to spiral

Coaching Beyond the Playbook

Coaching needs more than tactics — it needs a system for teaching momentum.

That’s why we combine:
- Mindset + performance trainng
- Pressure-response training
- Tactical rehearsal
- Leadership profiling
- Disruption strategy

This is the future of high-performance coaching.

We’re Still Learning — Just Like You

SportSpeed is constantly evolving — just like the athletes we train.

We know one thing for sure: hard work beats talent when talent stops growing. But mindset, harwork + talent together? That’s how teams become unstoppable.

The SportSpeed Momentum Philosophy:
Train it. Create it. Own it.

If you want to build more than fitness — if you want to build confidence, leadership, and clutch performance — start with the Momentum Mindset.

📍 Brookvale & Narrabeen
📲
🔗 Visit sportspeed.com.au


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